Christ
is the Mystery no. 19
The
Image of the Invisible God part 3
August 12,
2012
Brian
Kocourek
This morning we will continue with the thought from brother Branham’s
sermon and the Apostle Paul’s thoughts in Colossians where he is speaking of
Christ being the Image of the Invisible God.
Colossians 2:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature:
Hebrews
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And
we are predestined to be conformed to that same image as we see in Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Again
we see this predestined promise of God in 1
Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the
earthy, we shall also bear the image of
the heavenly.
And
this coming into the image of the first
born son comes via receiving the glory or doxa of God which is his opinions,
his values and his judgments. Colossians 3:10 And
have put on the new man, which is
renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
And
we see how this comes about in 2 Corinthians 3:18 But
we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
So this morning we are going to look at this manifestation of this image
in the believer.
Therefore turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians
4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God
deceitfully; but by manifestation of
the truth commending ourselves to
every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Now, there are two
words I think are worth noting here. He said
“by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight or presence of God. Now, this word commend here was
translated from the Greek word sunistano
soon-is-tan'-o and
it means: to
exhibit ourselves or place ourselves on display for the purpose of approval. And
notice in order to place ourselves on exhibit, he says, by
manifestation of the truth we are
in essence commending ourselves or
placing ourselves on exhibit to every man's conscience in the sight or presence of God.
In other words he is
telling us that the Truth will manifest itself in and through us, and in doing
so we placing ourselves as an open book on exhibit to be publicly examined in
our very lives, not only to every believer but in the presence of God as well.
Now, is that not what William Branham did? Was not his life a complete
open book before the people? And does not Paul say before this, that We have
renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God
deceitfully.
Now, what does Paul
mean by saying “we
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty”, what does that
mean?
Well, the word renounce means to 2. To reject; disown, and he’s speaking of the hidden things
of dishonesty. In other words those back room meetings for the sole purpose of bringing
about measures to control a certain person or persons.
In politics it’s those secret meetings that go one between government
officials to develop plans how to place more controls over the people, and in
religion it’s those secret board meetings where deacons and pastors get
together to gossip about the people, and then plan out how they are going to
bring more control over the people without the people having any idea that this
was conceived in a back room some where.
I have always been against those kinds of things, and that I why I have
never thought to much about having regular deacons meetings. We meet only when
necessary and that only to see what Br. Branham said about certain issues, and
how they should be done in the church. And I don’t know when we had the last
deacon meeting in this church, if ever. We used to have general board meetings
to make a list and prioritize what had to be done concerning the church
building and grounds, but nothing concerning the deacon board and people in
this church. And why not? Because it
would be t a hidden thing of dishonesty to get together and talk about someone.
I would rather talk to that person face to face, one on one, than have a
discussion about any person with a group of brothers. I wouldn’t like it if a
group got together to discuss me, so why would it be right to do differently
than what I would like done for myself.
Paul told us how to deal with a brother who has been overtaken in a fault, he said in Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, (that means those who are spirit filled and thus controlled by the Spirit) restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (in other words, reinstate him, (in other words, bring that one back to their original condition they had before they fell from grace, and do it without any sense of superiority and make sure you do it with gentleness,)
Now, this word restore doesn’t mean talking
about them, nor does it mean to clobber them or belittle them, or berate them, or
call them into a meeting or scold them as though they are a child. Restore
means: to bring them back or reestablish
them. And how are we to do it? He said “In the spirit of meekness considering our own selves”
as though we were the one who had fallen, and how we would like to be restored
back if we were in his shoes.
Now, isn’t that the golden rule, “do unto others as you would want them to do
unto you”.
Because Paul goes on to say, 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. Now, never forget, this
“law of Christ”
he’s talking about here is “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”, or
simply put, it is “the law of life” from Genesis 1:11 which says that “every seed must
bring forth after its kind”. And by bearing one another’s burdens,
we are taking up not only our cross but we are also helping our brethren to
bear their cross as well. We thus are living for the Fathers children just as Jesus
lived for them, and we are dying to self for the Fathers children just as Jesus
died to self for them.
We see this same thought
also in 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying
of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
And then Paul goes on to say in Galatians 6:3 For
if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he only deceives himself. In other words, don’t get too lofty and lifted up just
because you have been placed in a position of importance in the church. If
Jesus came to serve then that is what we are supposed to do. And in serving just
remember what it’s all about, because it’s not all about you, and what you can
do or be seen doing, but rather it’s all about Him, and what He did and the
pattern he set for us to fulfill.
Paul goes on to say, 4 But
let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself
alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall
bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the
word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things. 7 Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also
reap.
Now, to read this scripture from The Message Translation, Galatians 6:1 reads
like this. “If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your
critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness yourself before
the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. (Those
who have been kept down by severe and unjust use of force or authority): Share their
burdens, and so complete Christ's law.
If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. 4-5 Make
a careful exploration of who you are and the work you
have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with
yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take
responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Now, this idea of being made manifest or openly exhibiting The God-Life
in us in the
presence of God and in the presence of man is also mentioned by the
apostle Pal in other Scriptures as well.
In 2 Corinthians 5:11 we read, “Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
And again we see the promise of this in 1
Corinthians 3:13 Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is.
In 1 Corinthians 4:5 The apostle
Paul tells us, “Therefore judge nothing before the time,
until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of
darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall
every man have praise of God.”
And again in Luke 8:17 Jesus tells
us, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any
thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”
But we are also told why we must come to the place that we will manifest
the Life of Christ, for Paul tells us in 1
Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal. So not
only does it openly display the Life of Christ in our mortal bodies to others,
but it is also for the purpose of profiting us. In other words, it adds to who
and what we are. A profit is an increase, and when we manifest the life of Christ
in these bodies it builds up the body or increases the body of Christ.
Ephesians
4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity
of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that
which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure
of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.
So you see the ministry to the church is to increase or build up the
church.
And Paul said our increase comes via Love. 1
Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all
men, even as we do toward you:
Where I
think Pentecost failed 55-1111 P:60 If it ever gets to a place that I couldn't put my arm around any
brother that's working for the Kingdom of God, and recognize him as my brother,
I feel I'm backslid. Amen. Sure. I'd be a scared to stand on
the platform and face evil spirits, to know that I had envy in my heart against
any brother, no matter who he is, that's trying to preach the Gospel of Jesus
Christ or live a Christian life. If we disagree a million miles upon theology,
if he loves the Lord Jesus, he's my brother, and it's my sister. And we've
drawn those lines. "And if you can't love your brother who you have seen,
how can you love God Who you can't--have never seen?" And brother, when
love goes out, God goes with it, for God is love. And you can never get anywhere
without Divine love. And as you love one another, you love God.
Expectations
and what love is 54-0228A P:48 And when
we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, and we love one another
as ourselves, our neighbors as ourselves, the people can actually feel that. You can't put it on. You can't make believe, 'cause they'll know
it. I believe
Super Sign 62-0624 I'd rather have love than all the gifts that God has,
because where there's tongues, they shall cease; where there's prophecy, it
shall fail; but when it's love, it endures forever.
Way to have fellowship 55-1009 18 I'd rather have a church... Listen, just a
moment. I would rather have a church that knows nothing about any spiritual
gift, and just be so in love with each
other and with Christ, I'd rather
have that than every spiritual gift operating in the church. Now, that
might sound hard in a Pentecostal group, but I would rather have it. Where
there is gifts, they'll fail. Where there is gifts, they'll bring confusion.
Where there is gifts, they can be questioned. But where there is love, it is
perfect. That's right. And if you had
perfect love you'd have perfect gifts. That's right. So work first with
love. That brings fellowship, and fellowship brings gifts.
Hear ye Him 58-0209A I'd
rather have His love than every gift
He's got in His Kingdom. Give me His love. That's
what the world is looking for today, is
to see a display of real love. It'll win souls when you got love. They can
tell it when you got love. We got to much make-believe love.
Romans 8:19
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. To manifest what? To manifest “the Love of God that has been shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost.”
Q & A COD 54-0103M "I'd rather have a
church that had such a burden on their
heart for prayer that they just stayed at this altar and would be here day
and night, and everything else; and in their house, was constantly in prayer,
and humble, and trying to get people to come to God, and making calls at the
hospital, and visiting the sick, and trying to get people to come to church and
do right. I'd rather have that than all
the other put together; although the other is right, it belongs in the
church."
1 John 4:9
In this was manifested the
love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through him.
Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hid,
which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that
it should come abroad.